Protective glove having protrusion facilitating pushing of recessed pushbutton

ABSTRACT

A protective glove for a firefighter or for an emergency worker has a protrusion, such as a protruding button, which protrudes from one of the finger-covering portions of the protective glove, other than the thumb-covering portion of the protective glove, on a front face of the protective glove, and which facilitates pushing a recessed pushbutton of an emergency device, such as a microphone for a two-radio.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention pertains to a protective glove for a firefighter or for an emergency worker. This invention contemplates that the protective glove has a protrusion, which facilitates pushing a recessed pushbutton, as exemplified by a recessed pushbutton of an emergency device, such as a microphone for a two-radio.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

An emergency device, such as a microphone for a two-way radio, may have a pushbutton, which, when pushed, sends an emergency signal. The pushbutton may be called a “panic” button or a “mayday” button. The pushbutton may be recessed, so as to avert its being inadvertently pressed when a firefighter, an emergency worker, or some other user, who is holding the emergency device in one hand of the user or who has the emergency device clipped to an outer garment worn by the user, is crawling or is leaning against someone or against something.

Commonly, a firefighter or an emergency worker wears protective gloves, which may have outer shells and inner liners and which may impede pushing a recessed pushbutton, such as a recessed pushbutton of an emergency device, as discussed above. Consequently, when needing to press a recessed pushbutton, a firefighter or an emergency worker may want to remove one protective glove, so as to free one hand to press the recessed pushbutton. However, a firefighter or an emergency worker may be working in a hazardous environment, in which removal of one protective glove is not advisable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides, for a firefighter or for an emergency worker, a protective glove having a front face and a back face and having finger-covering portions, which include a thumb-covering portion. The protective glove has a protrusion, which facilitates pushing a recessed pushbutton, as exemplified by a recessed pushbutton of an emergency device, such as a microphone for a two-radio.

The protrusion may protrude from one of the finger-covering portions, either the thumb-covering portion or another of the finger-covering portions. The protrusion may protrude from the front face, from the back face, or from a side edge, which may be opposite to the thumb-covering portion. Preferably, the protrusion is a separate piece, which is affixed to the protective glove.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, pictorial view of a firefighter wearing an outer coat, to which a microphone of a two-way radio is clipped, and wearing a protective glove having a protrusion, which protrudes from one finger-covering portion of the protective glove and which facilitates pushing a recessed pushbutton on the microphone.

FIG. 2, on a larger scale, is an elevational view of the microphone, as taken where indicated in FIG. 1. FIG. 3, on a similar scale, is an end view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2, in a direction indicated by arrows.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary detail of the protrusion and of an adjacent region of the finger-covering portion, from which the protrusion protrudes, as taken where indicated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a further enlarged, fragmentary detail, which shows the protrusion being used to push the recessed pushbutton.

FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 are fragmentary, pictorial views, which illustrate alternative locations for the protrusion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

As illustrated, a firefighter is wearing an outer coat 10, to which a microphone 20 of a two-way radio is clipped. The microphone 20 has a pushbutton 30, which, when pushed, sends an emergency signal.

In a recess 32 at one end 22 of the microphone 20, the pushbutton 30 is recessed, so as to avert its being inadvertently pressed when the firefighter, while holding the microphone 20 in one hand or while having the microphone 20 clipped to the outer coat 10, is crawling or is leaning against someone or against something. Further details of the microphone 20 and of the pushbutton 30 are outside the scope of this invention.

As illustrated, the firefighter is wearing a protective glove 40 on his right hand and a protective glove 50 on his left hand. The protective gloves 40, 50, which have outer shells and which may have inner liners, are conventional, except as illustrated and described herein. The protective glove 40 has a front face 42 and a back face 44. As contemplated by this invention, the protective glove 40 has a protrusion 60, which facilitates pushing the recessed pushbutton 30.

In one contemplated embodiment, which is illustrated in FIGS. 1, 4, and 5, the protrusion 60 protrudes from one of the finger-covering portions of the protective glove 40, other than its thumb-covering portion 46, on the front face 42. Moreover, the protrusion 60 protrudes from the index finger-covering portion 48 of the protective glove 40, on the front face 42.

In an alternative embodiment, which is illustrated in FIG. 6, the protrusion 60 protrudes from the thumb-covering portion 46, on the back face 44, at or near where a knuckle of the firefighter wearing the protective glove 10. In another alternative embodiment, which is illustrated in FIG. 7, the protrusion 60 protrudes from a side edge 70 of the protective glove 10, namely, the side edge 70 opposite to the thumb-covering portion 46. In another alternative embodiment, which is illustrated in FIG. 8, the protrusion 60 protrudes from the back face 44, between the finger-covering portions and the mouth 80 (FIG. 1) of the protective glove 10.

Preferably, the protrusion 60 is a separate piece, which may be made from leather, from a rigid or semi-rigid, polymeric material, or from any other, suitable material, and which is affixed to the protective glove 40. As illustrated, the protrusion 60 is sewn to the index finger-covering portion 48 of the protective glove 40, on the front face 42. The protective glove 50 may have a similar protrusion. 

1. For a firefighter or for an emergency worker, a protective glove having a front face and a back face and having finger-covering portions, which include a thumb-covering portion, wherein the protective glove has only one protrusion having a rounded end, which facilitates pushing a recessed pushbutton.
 2. The protective glove of claim 1, wherein the protrusion protrudes from one of the finger-covering portions.
 3. The protective glove of claim 1, wherein the protrusion protrudes from the thumb-covering portion.
 4. The protective glove of claim 1, wherein the protrusion protrudes from the front face of the protective glove.
 5. The protective glove of claim 1, wherein the protrusion protrudes from the back face of the glove.
 6. The protective glove of claim 1, wherein the protrusion protrudes from a side edge of the protective glove.
 7. The protective glove of claim 1, wherein the protrusion protrudes from a side edge of the protective glove, the side edge being opposite to the thumb-covering portion.
 8. The protective glove of any one of claims 1 through 7, wherein the protrusion is a separate piece, which is affixed to the protective glove.
 9. (canceled)
 10. For a firefighter or for an emergency worker, a protective glove having an outer shell, an inner liner, a front face and a back face and having finger-covering portions, which include a thumb-covering portion, wherein the protective glove has a protrusion having a rounded end, which facilitates pushing a recessed pushbutton.
 11. The protective glove of claim 10, wherein the protrusion protrudes from one of the finger-covering portions.
 12. The protective glove of claim 10, wherein the protrusion protrudes from the thumb-covering portion.
 13. The protective glove of claim 10, wherein the protrusion protrudes from the front face of the protective glove.
 14. The protective glove of claim 10, wherein the protrusion protrudes from the back face of the glove.
 15. The protective glove of claim 10, wherein the protrusion protrudes from a side edge of the protective glove.
 16. The protective glove of claim 10, wherein the protrusion protrudes from a side edge of the protective glove, the side edge being opposite to the thumb-covering portion.
 17. The protective glove of any one of claims 10 through 16, wherein the protrusion is a separate piece, which is affixed to the protective glove. 